Reds pay a heavy price for sloppiness

It may have been Fathers’ Day, but it certainly wasn’t Salford’s! Reds were the ones doing the giving – presenting four first-half tries to the Tigers, who Salford boss Shaun McRae felt were there for the taking before kick-off.

Reds were the ones doing the giving – presenting four first-half tries to the Tigers, who Salford boss Shaun McRae felt were there for the taking before kick-off.

Reds’ indifferent start proved decisive. McRae’s men pulled level after trailing 22-6 at the break, only to lose out to a Brett Ferres late try following their one defensive slip after half-time.

Salford gave themselves too big a mountain to climb and, despite a vastly improved second-half performance, they again finished empty-handed.

Coach McRae felt his men deserved something - they certainly did - but he was left to lament the poor start.

McRae said: “We opened an opportunity for Castleford in the first half. We lacked impact in the tackle. But I still can’t understand why we started so badly.

“We were terrific in the second half, and we possibly could have won it after coming back from being 22-6 down. We scored some great tries, but the first 40 minutes cost us, and then our only defensive error in the second half gave Castleford the winning try.

“We worked in practice on the things that Castleford caught us out on, but we stood back and watched Castleford play at the start rather than pressurise. At half-time we spoke about improving collision and line speed.

Luke Swain, who wants a two-year contract, made Reds’ first try for Karl Fitzpatrick.

The second-half fightback was sparked when the hard-working Stuart Littler went over from Matty Smith’s kick.

Brilliant wing play from Jodie Broughton then produced a third try. Daniel Holdsworth and a more direct Matty Smith then combined well to send Ian Sibbit powering over to square matters, only for Ferres to snatch it.